Liquid crystal display module

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a liquid crystal display module that improves luminance of a liquid crystal panel by enhancing a light transmittance. The liquid crystal display module comprises a liquid crystal panel with plural unit pixels for converting incident light into colored light, wherein each unit pixel includes red (R), green (G), blue (B), and white (W) sub-pixels; a light source for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel; an optical member for guiding light emitted from the light source toward a frontal direction of the liquid crystal panel; and a polarizing means including a polarization area for polarizing the light outgoing from the liquid crystal panel, and a hole for transmitting the light therethrough.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No.10-2009-0118440 filed on Dec. 2, 2009, which is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display module, andmore particularly, to a liquid crystal display module capable ofimproving luminance of a liquid crystal panel by enhancing a lighttransmittance.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

An application field of liquid crystal display device (hereinafter,referred to as ‘LCD device’) has been gradually expanded owing tovarious advantages such as lightness in weight, thin profile, andlow-driving power. In recent years, the LCD device is widely used foroffice automation devices, multimedia devices, and informationcommunication devices.

A liquid crystal display module of the LCD device includes a liquidcrystal panel which is provided with liquid crystal cells arranged in amatrix-type configuration between two glass substrates; and a backlightunit for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel.

The liquid crystal panel displays images by controlling a lighttransmittance according to a video signal applied to control switchessuch as thin film transistors (TFT) arranged in a matrix-typeconfiguration. At this time, the liquid crystal panel cannot emit lightin itself. Thus, the liquid crystal panel is supplied with the lightemitted from the backlight unit including a light source, wherein thelight source included in the backlight unit may be positioned at a rearside or lateral side of the liquid crystal panel.

The backlight unit can be classified into a direct type and an edge typeaccording to the position of the light source. In more detail, thedirect type backlight unit includes the light source positioned at therear side of the liquid crystal panel; and the edge type backlight unitincludes the light source positioned at the lateral side of the liquidcrystal panel.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a related art liquid crystal display module.FIG. 3 is a cross section view along A-A′ of FIG. 2. FIGS. 1 and 2 showan edge-type backlight unit using a light-emitting diode (LED) as alight source.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the related art liquid crystal display moduleincludes a liquid crystal panel 40 for displaying images by controllinga light transmittance of liquid crystal according to input video data; alight source 10 for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel 40; alower polarizing plate 20 for polarizing the light emitted from thelight source 10; a light-guiding plate 30 for guiding the light incidenton its lateral side to a frontal direction of the liquid crystal panel40; and an upper polarizing plate 50, positioned above the liquidcrystal panel 40, for polarizing the light outgoing from the liquidcrystal panel 40.

The liquid crystal panel 40 includes a lower glass substrate 41 on whichcontrol switches such as thin film transistors (TFT) are formed; anupper glass substrate 45 on which a color filter layer 44 is formed; aspacer (not shown) for maintaining a constant cell gap between the lowerand upper glass substrates 41 and 45; a liquid crystal 42 filled in aspace prepared by the spacer; and an over-coating layer 43 formedbetween the liquid crystal 42 and the color filter layer 44.

The liquid crystal panel 40 cannot emit the light in itself. Thus, theliquid crystal panel 40 displays the images by controlling thetransmittance of light emitted from the light source 10. One of the mostimportant points to be duly considered for improvement of the picturequality of the images displayed in the liquid crystal panel 40 isluminance of the light irradiated on the liquid crystal panel 40. Thatis, the light with high luminance has to be supplied to the liquidcrystal panel 40, to thereby obtain the high picture quality in thedisplayed images.

In the related art liquid crystal display module having theaforementioned structure, the light emitted from the light source 10comes out from the liquid crystal display module after traveling throughthe lower polarizing plate 20, the light-guiding plate 30, the liquidcrystal panel 40, and the upper polarizing plate 50, whereby theluminance of light finally outgoing from the liquid crystal panel 40 islowered considerably.

If the liquid crystal panel 40 has 13.3-inch (113 pixels per inch) size,the light transmittance of each of the lower and upper polarizing plates20 and 50 is 45%; the light transmittance of each of the lower and upperglass substrates 41 and 45 is 94%; the light transmittance of TFT arrayand pixel on the lower glass substrate 41 of the liquid crystal panel 40is 65%; and the light transmittance of color filter layer 44 of theliquid crystal panel 40 is 27%.

Eventually, the light outgoing from the liquid crystal panel 40 is onlyabout 7˜8% of the light emitted from the light source 10, whereby thelight transmittance becomes low. Meanwhile, if the liquid crystal panel40 has 32-inch (49 pixels per inch) size, the light outgoing from theliquid crystal panel 40 is about 5% of the light emitted from the lightsource 10, whereby the light transmittance becomes considerably lowered.

The related art liquid crystal display module is disadvantageous in thatmost of light emitted from the light source 10 is lost by passingthrough the lower polarizing plate 20, the upper polarizing plate 50,and the color filter layer 44, included in the liquid crystal panel 40,having the aforementioned light transmittances. Thus, the lightefficiency of the related art liquid crystal display module is loweredby the light loss.

In order to overcome this problem, the plural light sources 10 may beadditionally arranged in the backlight unit, to thereby improve theluminance of the liquid crystal display module. However, a manufacturingcost of the liquid crystal display module is increased due to theadditionally-provided light sources 10. Also, if additionally drivingthe plural light sources 10, power consumption is highly increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a liquid crystaldisplay module that substantially obviates one or more problems due tolimitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An advantage of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystaldisplay module which facilitates to improve light transmittance byenhancing transparency.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a liquidcrystal display module which facilitates to improve luminance of liquidcrystal panel.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a liquidcrystal display module which facilitates to reduce a manufacturing cost.

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a liquidcrystal display module which facilitates to lower power consumption usedfor its driving mode.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description which follows and in part will become apparentto those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of thefollowing or may be learned from practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there isprovided a liquid crystal display module comprising: a liquid crystalpanel with plural unit pixels, wherein each unit pixel includes red (R),green (G), blue (B), and white (W) sub-pixels, for converting incidentlight into colored light; a light source for supplying light to theliquid crystal panel; an optical member for guiding light emitted fromthe light source toward a frontal direction of the liquid crystal panel;and a polarizing means including a polarization area for polarizing thelight outgoing from the liquid crystal panel, and a hole fortransmitting the light therethrough.

At this time, the polarizing means is formed of a wire grid polarizer(WGP) including a nano-sized grid pattern with metal conductor linesarranged at a predetermined pitch.

Also, the hole of the polarizing means is formed in an areacorresponding to at least one of the red (R), green (G), blue (B), andwhite (W) sub-pixels.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquidcrystal display module comprising: a liquid crystal panel with pluralunit pixels, wherein each unit pixel includes red (R), green (G), andblue (B) sub-pixels, for converting incident light into colored light; alight source for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel; an opticalmember for guiding light emitted from the light source toward a frontaldirection of the liquid crystal panel; and a polarizing means includinga polarization area for polarizing the light outgoing from the liquidcrystal panel, and a hole for transmitting the light therethrough.

Each of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filter layersincludes a hole to transmit the light therethrough.

The hole of the polarizing means is positioned in an area correspondingto the hole of the color filter layer.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a related art liquid crystal display module;

FIG. 3 is a cross section view along A-A′ of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a liquid crystal display module according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross section view along B-B′ of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates one type of wire grid polarizer (WGP) in the liquidcrystal display module shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 illustrates another type of wire grid polarizer (WGP) in theliquid crystal display module shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for manufacturing a wire grid polarizer(WGP);

FIG. 9 illustrates a liquid crystal display module according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a cross section view along C-C′ of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Hereinafter, a liquid crystal display module according to the presentinvention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 illustrates a liquid crystal display module according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross sectionview along B-B′ of FIG. 4. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an edge-typebacklight unit which uses an LED as a light source.

Hereinafter, a liquid crystal display module according to the firstembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the liquid crystal display module accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention includes a liquidcrystal panel 140 for displaying images by controlling a lighttransmittance of liquid crystal according to input video data; a lightsource (not shown) for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel 140;a light-guiding plate 130 for guiding light incident on its lateral sideto a frontal direction of the liquid crystal panel 140; and a wire gridpolarizer 150 (hereinafter, referred to as ‘WGP’) for polarizing thelight outgoing from the liquid crystal panel 140, the WGP 150 positionedabove the liquid crystal panel 140. Although not shown, there may be alower polarizing plate (not shown) for polarizing the light emitted fromthe light source (not shown).

The liquid crystal panel 140 includes a lower glass substrate 141, anupper glass substrate 145, spacers (not shown), a liquid crystal layer142, color filter layers 144 and 146, and an over-coating layer 143. Inthis case, switching devices such as thin film transistors (TFT) areformed on the lower glass substrate 141; and the color filter layers 144and 146 are formed on the upper glass substrate 145. Also, the spacers(not shown) are provided between the lower and upper glass substrates141 and 145, to thereby maintain a cell gap therebetween. The liquidcrystal layer 142 is filled in a space prepared by the spacers. Owing tothe color filter layers 144 and 146 on the upper glass substrate 145,the light passing through the liquid crystal layer 142 has its ownpeculiar color of red (R), green (G), blue (B), or white (W) color. Theover-coating layer 143 on the liquid crystal layer 142 prevents thecolor filter layers 144 and 146 from being damaged, and simultaneouslyenables a planar surface in pixels.

In the liquid crystal panel 140, each pixel region is defined by gateand data lines (not shown) crossing each other at right angles. On thepixel region, a pixel electrode is arranged in parallel to the dataline, wherein the pixel electrode is formed of a transparent metalmaterial such as ITO (Indium-Tin-Oxide). Also, the switching device suchas the TFT is formed in a region corresponding to a crossing portion ofthe gate and data lines. When the TFT is turned-on by a driving signalapplied to the gate line, a data signal applied to the data line isapplied to the pixel electrode through a channel layer of the TFT.

The color filter layers 144 and 146 include red (R), green (G), and blue(B) color filter layers 144; and white color filter layers 146, whereina black matrix is provided between each of the respective color filterlayers 144 and 146.

Each of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filter layers 144 isformed through the use of photoresist (PR) having its own peculiarcolor; and the white color filter 146 is formed of transparentphotoresist.

For example, the white color filter layer 146 may be formed in acolumn-spacer forming method using the transparent photoresist, or maybe formed in an over-coating method using the transparent photoresist.

In the liquid crystal display module according to the first embodimentof the present invention, the four pixel electrodes, that is, foursub-pixels constitute one unit pixel. On the upper glass substrate 145,the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filter layers 144, and thewhite (W) color filter layers 146 are arranged in a matrix-typeconfiguration, which are provided to confront the pixel electrodes ofthe lower glass substrate 141. In the liquid crystal panel 140 of theliquid crystal display module according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention, four sub-pixels of the red (R), green (G), blue (B),and white (W) sub-pixels constitute one unit pixel.

Accordingly, the color filter layers 144 and 146 of the liquid crystaldisplay module according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention include the white (W) color filter layers 146 as well as thered (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filter layers 144. As the white(W) sub-pixel is additionally provided together with the red (R), green(G), and blue (B) sub-pixels, a light transmittance per unit pixel canbe enhanced. Thus, the light with high luminance, outgoing from theliquid crystal panel 140, enables to improve the picture quality.

The WGP 150 is provided on the aforementioned liquid crystal panel 140,wherein the WGP 150 checks horizontally-polarized andvertically-polarized components of the incident light; and selectivelytransmits or blocks the vertically-polarized or horizontally-polarizedcomponent. In this respect, the WGP 150 functions as a generalpolarizing plate (polarizing film).

Among the vertical or horizontal light emitted from the backlight unit,the WGP 150 transmits only light vibrated in the same direction as apolarizing axis; and absorbs or reflects the other types of light, tothereby generate the polarization in a particular direction.

As shown in FIG. 6, the WGP 150 includes a nano-sized grid pattern 154with conductor lines arranged at a predetermined pitch, wherein theconductor lines are formed of metal. At this time, the grid pattern 154has the pitch (for example, not more than a half wavelength of visiblerays) which is smaller than that of the incident light (for example,visible rays having 400˜800 nm wavelength).

Thus, the WGP 150 transmits only one type of the polarized components(P-wave or S-wave) among the light emitted from the backlight unit andpassing through the liquid crystal panel 140; and reflects the othertype of the polarized components toward the liquid crystal panel 140.That is, the WGP 150 functions as a polarizing plate which generates asingle polarization.

The related art polarizing plate absorbs some of the non-transmittedpolarized components from the incident light, whereby the light lossoccurs. However, the WGP 150 of the present invention reflects thenon-transmitted polarized components, whereby the light loss isrelatively reduced, and the luminance of light outgoing from the liquidcrystal panel 140 is increased.

At this time, the WGP 150 includes a polarization area with the gridpattern 154 for polarizing the incident light; and a hole 155 fortransmitting the light therethrough. The hole 155 is formed in an areacorresponding to any one of the red (R), green (G), blue (B), and white(W) sub-pixels included in the unit pixel. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the hole155 is formed in the area corresponding to the white (W) sub-pixel, thatis, the hole 155 of the WGP 150 is positioned in the area correspondingto the white color filter layer 146.

In the aforementioned explanation, the hole 155 of the WGP 150 isprovided in the area corresponding to any one of the red (R), green (G),blue (B), and white (W) sub-pixels constituting the unit pixel. However,a modified exemplary case of the present invention may disclose that theplural holes 155 may be respectively provided in the areas correspondingto the plural sub-pixels.

According to another exemplary case of the present invention, the hole155 may be provided for every unit pixel, or may be provided everypredetermined number of the unit pixels. Also, the holes 155 may berespectively formed in the different color filter layers of theneighboring unit pixels.

FIG. 6 discloses that the WGP 150 includes one polarizing axis, and thehole 155 for transmitting the light therethrough. However, as shown inFIG. 7, the WGP 150 may the plural polarizing axes, and the hole 155 fortransmitting the light therethrough.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for manufacturing the WGP 150 shown in FIG.6.

Referring to FIG. 8, a metal thin film 152 is deposited on a base film151 (or glass substrate), and the metal thin film 152 is coated withpolymer 153.

Then, a mold 165 with a grid pattern is positioned above the metal thinfilm 152 and polymer 153; and is pressed down through the use of press160, whereby the grid pattern of the mold 165 is printed on the polymer153. When manufacturing the mold 165, a hole pattern may be formedtogether with the grid pattern of the mold 165, so that it is possibleto form the WGP 150 having both the grid pattern 154 and hole 155.

The hole 155 of the WGP 150 is positioned in the area corresponding tothe at least one of the red (R), green (G), blue (B), and white (W)sub-pixels constituting one unit pixel, and more preferably, the whitecolor filter layer 146.

After the mold 165 is positioned in parallel to the polymer 153, heat orultraviolet ray (UV) is applied to the mold 165, whereby the polymer 153is cured to have the grid pattern.

Then, the mold 165 is separated from the polymer 153, whereby thepattern of the mold 165 is printed on the polymer 153, to thereby formthe grid pattern whose relieve and intaglio are opposite to those of themold 165.

After separating the mold 165 from the polymer 153, the pattern formedin the polymer 153 is etched to expose the surface of the metal thinfilm 152. After completing the etching process, the etched polymer 153is removed, and the surface of the metal thin film 152 is exposed.

Then, the metal thin film 152 whose surface is exposed is etched by adrying-etching method or wet-etching method, to thereby form the gridpattern 154. After that, the remaining polymer 153 is removed from thegrid pattern 154, whereby the WGP 150 is completed, wherein the WGP 150includes the grid pattern 154 for polarizing the incident light, and thehole 155 for transmitting the incident light.

In the aforementioned explanation, the WGP 150 is formed of anadditional film. However, another exemplary case of the presentinvention may disclose that the grid pattern may be formed on the upperglass substrate 145.

In the aforementioned explanation, the grid pattern 154 of the WGP 150is formed in the pressing method using the press. Another exemplary caseof the present invention may form the grid pattern 154 of the WGP 150 ina nanoimprint lithography using a roller, that is, R2RNIL (roll-to-rollnanoimprint lithography).

As mentioned above, when the hole 155 of the WGP 150 is provided in thearea corresponding to at least one of the red (R), green (G), blue (B),and white (W) sub-pixels constituting the unit pixel, and morepreferably, the white color filter layer 146; the light passing throughthe white color filter layer 146 is transmitted without being reflectedon the WGP 150. Thus, the light outgoing from the liquid crystal panel140 is not lost while passing through the WGP 150, to thereby improvelight efficiency.

Referring to the following table 1, on assumption that the liquidcrystal panel has 13.3-inch size, while the light transmittance of theliquid crystal display module according to the related art is 7.86%, thelight transmittance of the liquid crystal display module according tothe present invention is 10.74%, whereby the light transmittance of theliquid crystal display module according to the present invention isincreased by 36%, as compared to the light transmittance of the liquidcrystal display module according to the related art. On assumption thatthe liquid crystal panel has 32.0-inch size, while the lighttransmittance of the liquid crystal display module according to therelated art is 5.11%, the light transmittance of the liquid crystaldisplay module according to the present invention is 8.69%, whereby thelight transmittance of the liquid crystal display module according tothe present invention is increased by 70%, as compared to the lighttransmittance of the liquid crystal display module according to therelated art.

TABLE 1 Size of Light Light transmittance Increase liquid transmittanceof the of light crystal panel of the related art present inventiontransmittance 13.3″ 7.86% 10.74% Increased by 36% 32.0″ 5.11%  8.69%Increased by 70%

In the liquid crystal display module according to the related art, thelight passes through the upper polarizing plate and the color filterlayers, whereby the light loss occurs by the respective lighttransmittances. In the liquid crystal display module according to thepresent invention, the unit pixel is provided with the sub-pixelsincluding one white (W) sub-pixel with high light transmittance. Also,the hole 155 of the WGP 150 is provided in the area corresponding to theat least one among the four sub-pixels included in the unit pixel. Thus,the light transmittance of the present invention can be considerablyimproved in comparison to the light transmittance of the related art.

FIG. 9 illustrates a liquid crystal display module according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross sectionview along C-C′ of FIG. 9. FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an edge-typebacklight unit which uses an LED as a light source.

Hereinafter, a liquid crystal display module according to the secondembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 9 and 10. Except a color filter layer 144 and WGP 150 of a liquidcrystal panel 140, the liquid crystal display module according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention is identical in structure tothe liquid crystal display module according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention, whereby a detail explanation for the same partswill be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the liquid crystal display module accordingto the second embodiment of the present invention includes a liquidcrystal panel 140 for displaying images by controlling a lighttransmittance of liquid crystal according to input video data; a lightsource (not shown) for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel 140;a light-guiding plate 130 for guiding light incident on its lateral sideto a frontal direction of the liquid crystal panel 140; and a WGP 150for polarizing the light outgoing from the liquid crystal panel 140, theWGP 150 positioned above the liquid crystal panel 140. Although notshown, there may be a lower polarizing plate (not shown) for polarizingthe light emitted from the light source.

The liquid crystal panel 140 includes a lower glass substrate 141, anupper glass substrate 145, spacers (not shown), a liquid crystal layer142, an over-coating layer 143, and color filter layers 144. In thiscase, switching devices such as thin film transistors (TFT) are formedon the lower glass substrate 141; and the color filter layers 144 areformed on the upper substrate 145. Also, the spacers (not shown) areprovided between the lower and upper glass substrates 141 and 145, tothereby maintain a cell gap therebetween. The liquid crystal layer 142is filled in a space prepared by the spacers. The over-coating layer 143on the liquid crystal layer 142 prevents the color filter layers 144from being damaged, and simultaneously enables a planar surface inpixels. Owing to the color filter layers 144 on the upper glasssubstrate 145, the light passing through the liquid crystal layer 142has its own peculiar color.

The color filter layers 144 include red (R), green (G), and blue (B)color filter layers 144, wherein a black matrix is provided between eachof the respective color filter layers 144. Each of the red (R), green(G), and blue (B) color filter layers 144 has a hole 147 to transmit thelight therethrough.

At this time, each of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filterlayers 144 is formed through the use of photoresist (PR) having its ownpeculiar color. Also, the hole 147 of the color filter layer 144 may beformed by partially removing the photoresist (PR) for the process offorming the color filter layers 144.

In the liquid crystal display module according to the second embodimentof the present invention, the three sub-pixels constitute each unitpixel. On the upper glass substrate 145, the red (R), green (G), andblue (B) color filter layers 144 are arranged in a matrix-typeconfiguration, which are provided to confront the pixel electrodes ofthe lower glass substrate 141. In the liquid crystal panel 140 of theliquid crystal display module according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention, the three sub-pixels of the red (R), green (G), andblue (B) sub-pixels constitute one unit pixel, wherein each of the red(R), green (G), and blue (B) sub-pixels includes the hole 147 totransmit the light therethrough.

Accordingly, each of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) sub-pixels 144in the liquid crystal display module according to the second embodimentof the present invention includes the hole 147 to transmit the lighttherethrough, to thereby improve the light transmittance per unit pixel.Thus, the picture quality can be highly improved owing to thehigh-luminance light outgoing from the liquid crystal panel 140.

In the aforementioned explanation, the unit pixel comprises the threesub-pixels including the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) sub-pixels.Another example of the present invention may disclose that the unitpixel may comprise the four sub-pixels including an additional white (W)sub-pixel in addition to the red (R), green (G), and blue (B)sub-pixels.

The WGP 150 is provided on the aforementioned liquid crystal panel 140,wherein the upper polarizing plate 150 checks horizontally-polarized andvertically-polarized components of the incident light; and selectivelytransmits or blocks the vertically-polarized or horizontally-polarizedcomponent. In this respect, the WGP 150 functions as a generalpolarizing plate (polarizing film). Among the vertical or horizontallight emitted from the backlight unit, the WGP 150 transmits only lightvibrated in the same direction as a polarizing axis; and absorbs orreflects the other types of light, to thereby generate the polarizationin a particular direction.

As shown in FIG. 6, the WGP 150 includes a nano-sized grid pattern 154with conductor lines arranged at a predetermined pitch, wherein theconductor lines are formed of metal. At this time, the grid pattern 154has the pitch (for example, not more than a half wavelength of visiblerays) which is smaller than that of the incident light (for example,visible rays having 400˜800 nm wavelength). Thus, the WGP 150 transmitsonly one type of the polarized components (P-wave or S-wave) among thelight emitted from the backlight unit and passing through the liquidcrystal panel 140; and reflects the other type of the polarizedcomponents toward the liquid crystal panel 140. That is, the WGP 150functions as a polarizing plate which generates a single polarization.

The related art polarizing plate absorbs some of the non-transmittedpolarized components from the incident light, whereby the light lossoccurs. However, as mentioned above, the WGP 150 of the presentinvention reflects the non-transmitted polarized components, whereby thelight loss is relatively reduced, and the luminance of light outgoingfrom the liquid crystal panel 140 is increased.

At this time, the WGP 150 includes a polarization area with the gridpattern 154 for polarizing the incident light; and a hole 155 fortransmitting the light therethrough. The hole 155 of the WGP 150 ispositioned in the area corresponding to each of the holes 147 of the red(R), green (G), blue (B), and white (W) sub-pixels. At this time, theholes 155 of the WGP 150 may be provided for every unit pixel, or may beprovided every predetermined number of the unit pixels.

FIG. 6 discloses that the WGP 150 includes one polarizing axis, and thehole 155 for transmitting the light therethrough. However, as shown inFIG. 7, the WGP 150 may the plural polarizing axes, and the hole 155 fortransmitting the light therethrough.

As mentioned above, the hole 147 for transmitting the light therethroughis formed in each of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) sub-pixelsconstituting the unit pixel; and the holes 155 of the WGP 150 are formedin the areas corresponding to the holes 147 of the color filter layers144 of the respective sub-pixels.

Thus, the light transmitted through the hole 147 of the sub-pixel isintactly transmitted through the hole 155 of the WGP 150 without beingreflected on the WGP 150. As a result, it is possible to prevent thelight loss, which might occurs when the light outgoing from the liquidcrystal panel 140 passes through the color filter layers 144 and the WGP150, to thereby result in improved light efficiency.

In case of the liquid crystal display module according to the relatedart, when the light passes through the upper polarizing plate and thecolor filter layer, the light loss inevitably occurs. However, theliquid crystal display module according to the present inventionincludes the hole 147 in the color filter layer 144 of the sub-pixel,and the hole 155 in the WGP 150, wherein the hole 155 in the WGP 150 ispositioned in the area corresponding to the hole 147 in the color filterlayer 144 of the sub-pixel, to thereby improve the light transmittance,as shown in the above table 1.

In the related art, the light source has to be additionally provided toimprove the luminance of light outgoing from the liquid crystal panel,whereby the manufacturing cost is increased. However, in case of theliquid crystal display modules according to the embodiments of thepresent invention, the luminance of light outgoing from the liquidcrystal panel can be improved without the additional light source, sothat it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost.

Also, the liquid crystal display module according to the embodiment ofthe present invention can prevent the increase of power consumption,which might occur when the additional light source is provided to obtainthe high luminance.

In the liquid crystal display module according to the embodiment of thepresent invention, the hole for transmitting the light is formed in theWGP on the liquid crystal panel, so that it is possible to improve thetransparency of the liquid crystal display module, and the luminance ofthe liquid crystal panel.

In addition, the liquid crystal display module according to the presentinvention enables the decreased manufacturing cost, and the decreasedpower consumption.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A liquid crystal display module comprising: a liquid crystal panelwith plural unit pixels, wherein each unit pixel includes red (R), green(G), blue (B), and white (W) sub-pixels, for converting incident lightinto colored light; a light source for supplying light to the liquidcrystal panel; an optical member for guiding light emitted from thelight source toward a frontal direction of the liquid crystal panel; anda polarizing means including a polarization area for polarizing thelight outgoing from the liquid crystal panel, and a hole fortransmitting the light therethrough.
 2. The liquid crystal displaymodule according to claim 1, wherein the polarizing means is formed of awire grid polarizer (WGP) including a nano-sized grid pattern with metalconductor lines arranged at a predetermined pitch.
 3. The liquid crystaldisplay module according to claim 2, wherein the hole of the polarizingmeans is formed in an area corresponding to at least one of the red (R),green (G), blue (B), and white (W) sub-pixels.
 4. The liquid crystaldisplay module according to claim 2, wherein the hole of the polarizingmeans is provided every unit pixels.
 5. The liquid crystal displaymodule according to claim 2, wherein a color filter layer of the white(W) sub-pixel is formed of transparent photoresist.
 6. A liquid crystaldisplay module comprising: a liquid crystal panel with plural unitpixels, wherein each unit pixel includes red (R), green (G), and blue(B) sub-pixels, for converting incident light into colored light; alight source for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel; an opticalmember for guiding light emitted from the light source toward a frontaldirection of the liquid crystal panel; and a polarizing means includinga polarization area for polarizing the light outgoing from the liquidcrystal panel, and a hole for transmitting the light therethrough. 7.The liquid crystal display module according to claim 6, wherein thepolarizing means is formed of a wire grid polarizer (WGP) including anano-sized grid pattern with metal conductor lines arranged at apredetermined pitch.
 8. The liquid crystal display module according toclaim 7, wherein each of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colorfilter layers includes a hole to transmit the light therethrough.
 9. Theliquid crystal display module according to claim 8, wherein the hole ofthe polarizing means is positioned in an area corresponding to the holeof the color filter layer.
 10. The liquid crystal display moduleaccording to claim 7, wherein the hole of the polarizing plate isprovided every unit pixel.